Donald Callis was born on October 13,1963 and is a Canadian professional wrestling manager, color commentator, and former professional wrestler and business executive.
29 Facts About Don Callis
2.
Don Callis is signed to All Elite Wrestling, where he works as the former on-screen manager of Kenny Omega and as a backstage consultant.
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Don Callis first gained international attention working under the name The Jackyl for the World Wrestling Federation.
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In 2020, through Impact's relationship with AEW, Don Callis began appearing on AEW programming.
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Don Callis was trained by Manitoba wrestling promoter Tony Condello, debuting in 1989 in Condello's West Four Wrestling Alliance promotion under his birth name.
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Later that year, Don Callis adopted the ring name "The Natural".
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In 1992, Don Callis wrestled for the Quebec-based Lutte Lanaudiere as "The General", teaming with El Diablero as "The Jet Set Team".
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Don Callis received a try-out match with the World Wrestling Federation in 1996 and was eventually hired to form a tag team with Rick Martel, which was dubbed "The Models".
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When Martel officially departed from the WWF for World Championship Wrestling, Don Callis was left without a gimmick and spot on WWF television.
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On September 20,1997, Don Callis debuted in the WWF as "The Jackyl", a member of a group of wrestlers known as "The Truth Commission" replacing the Commandant for refusing to take bumps.
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Don Callis returned to television in 1998, forming a stable known as "The Parade of Human Oddities".
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The stable did not last long, and Don Callis eventually started managing the new tag team of Faarooq and Bradshaw, "The Acolytes", until he was released by the WWF.
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Shortly after being released, Don Callis began writing weekly wrestling columns for the Sun Media Group and co-hosted a local Winnipeg radio show called "No Holds Barred" with Joe Aiello on CITI-FM.
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In mid-1999, Don Callis debuted in Extreme Championship Wrestling as "Cyrus the Virus", a commentator with a gimmick similar to that of his WWF persona.
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Don Callis's character represented many of the real problems between ECW and TNN at that point, as he constantly criticized the violent nature of ECW programming.
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Don Callis singled out Joel Gertner for disciplinary measures, among other things due to Gertner "getting himself over at the expense of the talent", which was the reason given to Callis by Bruce Prichard for his WWF release.
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Don Callis engaged in a long-term feud with commentator Joel Gertner, which culminated in a match on October 1,2000, at Anarchy Rulz 2000, in which Gertner was triumphant.
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Don Callis briefly operated the No Holds Barred Wrestling Camp, a Winnipeg-based wrestling training camp.
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On July 13,2018, it was announced Don Callis would serve as part of the broadcast team for the September 1 All In event, alongside Ian Riccaboni, Sean Mooney, Excalibur, Alicia Atout, Justin Roberts, and Bobby Cruise.
20.
In 2003, Don Callis debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a "Management Consultant".
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In storyline, Don Callis engaged in a power struggle with then Director of Authority Erik Watts and used his power to make life difficult for Jerry Lynn, repeatedly fining and suspending him.
22.
On January 28,2004, Don Callis succeeded in ousting Watts from TNA when he defeated him in a match for control of the promotion, though he quietly departed TNA soon afterward.
23.
Don Callis departed from TNA on good terms in 2004, having been offered a job in International trade that made use of his MBA.
24.
On October 18,2016, Don Callis debuted a new podcast with longtime friend Lance Storm called Killing the Town with Storm and Cyrus.
25.
On January 17,2017, Don Callis announced that he had accepted an offer to become the new English color commentator for New Japan Pro-Wrestling events on the NJPW World streaming service, working alongside Kevin Kelly.
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Don Callis was later replaced on commentary by Madison Rayne, though he would remain Impact's co-executive vice president.
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Don Callis made his All Elite Wrestling debut as a special guest commentator, at the request of Kenny Omega, during the World Title Eliminator Tournament Final between Omega and "Hangman" Adam Page at Full Gear.
28.
On December 2,2020, at Winter Is Coming, Don Callis was a special guest commentator for the AEW World Championship match between the champion Jon Moxley and the challenger Omega.
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Don Callis then revealed he had been planning Omega's championship victory since both men first met in their native country of Canada decades ago.